[Architect Ito Chuta]
Architect Ito Chuta, who was active from the Meiji to Showa periods and left an extremely important mark on the history of modern Japanese architecture, was born in 1867 as the second son of a family that had served as physicians to the Yonezawa domain for generations, in Yonezawa, Oitama District, Dewa Province (present-day Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture). However, Chuta did not follow the family medical profession. After moving to Tokyo, he enrolled in the Imperial University College of Engineering and its graduate school, aspiring to pursue the path of architecture (zoka). Studying Western-style architecture under leading figures of the time like Tatsuno Kingo and Josiah Conder, Chuta did not stop at mere imitation of the West. From an early stage, he developed a deep interest in ancient Japanese architecture, cultivating his own unique architectural philosophy.
Among Chuta's achievements, one particularly significant contribution was his advocacy for replacing the term “zoka” (造家), which carried strong technical connotations, with the term “kenchiku” (建築), which encompasses a more comprehensive artistic meaning. This proposal was made in 1894 (Meiji 27). In response, the Architectural Society was renamed the Architectural Institute of Japan in 1897 (Meiji 30), and the Department of Architecture at Tokyo Imperial University was renamed the Department of Architecture in 1899 (Meiji 32). This went beyond a mere change in terminology; it established his architectural philosophy, which redefined architecture not only as an engineering technology but as a “comprehensive art” integrating history, culture, and art.
While grounded in Western architectural theory, Chuta was also a leading authority in Japanese architectural history, undertaking a thorough reexamination of Japanese architecture and exploring its roots. In his 1898 (Meiji 31) treatise “On the Architecture of Horyuji Temple,” he academically demonstrated that Horyuji is Japan's oldest wooden structure. Furthermore, driven by his academic interest in tracing Horyuji's origins back to ancient Greece, he chose to pursue his research in Asia rather than studying in Europe or America, which was the common practice at the time. From 1902, he spent over three years conducting extensive surveys in China, India, the Ottoman Empire, and other regions. During this research journey, he made the historic achievement of being the first in the world to recognize the academic value of the Yungang Grottoes in China, which would later become a World Heritage Site. Upon returning to Japan, he became an assistant professor at Tokyo Imperial University in 1905 (Meiji 38) and was appointed professor the following year, nurturing many future architects. For his outstanding achievements, he was honored in 1943 (Showa 18) with the Order of Culture, the first architect to receive this distinction.
Chuta's architecture spanned an exceptionally wide range, from classical temples and shrines to public buildings and private residences. Among his most renowned works are the Heian Shrine and Meiji Shrine (both co-designed), the Yasukuni Shrine's Sacred Gate and Stone Torii, and the Yushima Seido Confucian Academy. A defining characteristic of these structures is their striking originality, achieved by decorating exteriors with fantastical creatures and mythical beasts influenced by Chinese and Indian traditions, while maintaining a deep respect for classical forms. His representative work, the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, is known for its unique exterior blending Indian style with Buddhist architecture. His beloved animal and supernatural creature decorations are also scattered throughout buildings like the Okura Shukokan Museum and Hitotsubashi University's Kanematsu Auditorium. In fact, the inspiration for his mysterious decorations came from fairy tales his mother told him in childhood. Thus, Chuta's architecture established an unparalleled, original style, fusing Western structural techniques with Eastern culture and history, and his own artistic vision.
The other day, while passing through Yamagata City, I had the opportunity to visit the renowned Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha temple, “Hakushozan Myozenji,” nestled within a residential neighborhood. Registered as a Tangible Cultural Property, this main hall stands in stark contrast to the Oriental expression of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, which is reinforced concrete. Designed as a wooden structure, it features a bell tower and drum tower flanking the main building. This composition is widely recognized among architectural professionals as anticipating the design philosophy of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. The main hall's blueprints were initially drafted in 1925 (Taisho 14), underwent further revisions, and the final design was completed in 1927 (Showa 2). Construction began in 1928 (Showa 3), the roof was raised in 1930 (Showa 5), and the hall was completed in 1934 (Showa 9). Aiming to rebuild the main hall destroyed in the Great Yamagata Fire of 1894, the project took a long 40 years from conception to completion. Despite Myozenji having fewer than 80 parishioners at the time, each individual contributed both materially and spiritually to the reconstruction. This speaks volumes about how deeply cherished and protected Myozenji was within the community. Myozenji's main hall stands as a historically and architecturally valuable structure, embodying Chuta's profound scholarship and unique creativity, shaped by the fervor of his hometown.
The distinctive buildings Chuta left behind—ranging from shrines and temples to university lecture halls—still stand proudly across Japan today. These structures, born from the fusion of intellectual curiosity and playful spirit, seem to convey a strong will that continues to connect people, architecture, and culture across the ages.
Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Tsukiji Hongwanji
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NmtgNftDkocgrCJL8
Hakushozan Myozenji
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NrBbVp9cawaMHDFCA
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/
References
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E6%9D%B1%E5%BF%A0%E5%A4%AA
https://www.city.yonezawa.yamagata.jp/soshiki/10/1034/5/1/1600.html
https://kenchiku-pers.com/photo/list/a0105-chuta-ito/
https://www.reallocal.jp/70740
